In those dark days there resided in the Neighbourhood, at Old Buckhurst, a comparatively young man, Mr Doggett by name, who had come from Norfolk. …… One night his rest was broken by a dream, in which Crowborough Forest appeared to him as a great roaring sea .... in a certain spot appeared a lighthouse ..... the dream made such an impression that he felt it to be an indication of the will of God to establish the preaching of the gospel in that spot where, in his dream, the lighthouse appeared to stand ..... on this spot he found an od barn .... had it licensed as a place of worship .... still forms the walls of Forest Fold Chapel

Forest Fold Baptist Chapel was formed on June 13th, 1844. Mr Jonathan Mose appears to have ministered regularly to the people who assembled in the barn for four years, and so on the formation of the church became the first Pastor.

Mr E Littleton, having supplied for six months to the profit and education of the Forest Fold Church, was cordially and unanimously requested to take the pastorate, which was accepted by him, his stated labours commencing July 13th, 1868The pastorate of Mr Littleton covered a period of 52 years, and his name and memory are still remembered and loved by many.

'Here and there a house stands, as it seems, alone in the world on the Forest Ridge, thousands of acres of heather around, the deep weald underneath - as at Duddleswell, a look-out, as it were, over the earth. Forest Row, where they say the courtiers had their booths in ancient days; Forest Fold, Boar's-head Street, Greenwood Gate - all have a forest sound; and what prettier name could there be than Sweet-Haws? Greybirchet Wood again; Mossbarn, Highbroom, and so on. Outlying woods in every direction are fragments of the forest, you cannot get away from it; and look over whatever gate you will, there is always a view.'extract from Buckhurst Park written by Richard Jefferies in 1886

There were farm-houses at High Broom and at Redbridge, both claiming to be of very old date, but the present buildings have been either extensively repaired, so as to leave little of the old building remaining, or have been altogether rebuilt.

For many years the only place of worship at Crowborough was the chapel built by Sir H. Fermor, Bart. The Nonconformist chapels were built long after, the oldest being the one on the Lye Green Road, close to, but not in Crowborough parish, known as Forest Fold, which has been in existence between sixty and seventy years. Before the present building was erected, Worship was performed in a barn.

The shop first established in the parish was on Chapel Green, in the building opposite to Mr. Turk's present grocery store. Here might be had a little drapery and grocery, but the stock and variety were very limited.

The shops at the Cross were established long after, within the memory of persons now living.

Carriers brought from Lewes and London the little that was required for the small community.

A coach passed over the Beacon Hill in its journey from Brighton to London, via Tunbridge Wells. Another coach ran over the Duddleswell Road and Church Hill, past the Five Hundred Acres, from Brighton through Uckfield, Maresfield, and Tunbridge Wells to London.

The postal arrangements of the period would be intolerable to us now. The nearest post office was at Rotherfield, and letters were not delivered, but were retained at the office till applied for.

The postage, which was paid by the claimant, was never under 1s. 2d. Mr. Howis, who lived at the Warren, always sent for his letters to Forest Row, a distance of seven miles or more. Probably the postal service to that place was more frequent and regular than at Rotherfield.

There was but one turnpike at Crowborough, and that was placed a little beyond the Crow and Gate Inn. It was done away with about sixteen or seventeen years ago.

Few, if any, of the people of the place had learned to read or write, there being no opportunity of getting instruction until after the Fermor School was established in 1734, and then only a limited number of children could be received into the school. Neither were there any churches or chapels nearer than Rotherfield. A few of the farmers attended at Rotherfield Church, but none of the labouring population ever thought of entering a place of worship. Even after the Fermor Chapel was built very few persons attended it.